#16 | Rodri - 2020/21 Performances

[vasan]

Too much unnecessary criticism esp. his comparison to fernandinho.
Marcelo bielsa made a interesting point in this respect . by comparing them to casemiero and busquets
Casemiero was initially a forward player so that past helped him in his forward play now when he plays as a holding mid. but in contrast busquets is more a CB that plays forward and casemiero is more a offensive mid who plays back.
So rodri is better than ferna in terms of screening the defence,making interceptions and physical presence in the box in terms of defending aerial balls in the box (useful esp when walker is not playing) and defending second balls but his play his offensive game like diagonal ball and vertical passes, he can't do that.
If we need a ferna replacement then need do find one but rodri is not that player.

 

[Callum Ramsey]

He's been a disappointment so far for me. He's often too slow to read the play and close down a receiver meaning he's always late to them to either tackle or intercept which subsequently leaves the team open. To add to that he seems even slower running the other way when the opposition beat the first phase of the press, meaning he's easily bypassed time and time again and the defence constantly exposed and under pressure once a team beats the press.

Now a defensive mid doesn't have to be the fastest when playing for a team that likely dominates possession 99% of their games as busquets proved for barcelona. They just have to be more aware and intelligent in their positional play both with and without the ball. Busquets was one of the most intelligent positional players at his peak and his reading of the game second to none so he was still able to intercept and get a tackle in despite his lack of pace. Unfortunately Rodri leaves a lot to be desired in both departments.

I'm not going to write him off yet and maybe with a more settled, fit team and more energetic players around and him, it can somehow compensate for that and he will be able to flourish but currently it's not been good enough from him.

 

[B\connellblue]

Its a shocking indictment of a player when he can only play well when he has energetic players around him. Fucking hell what kind of an excuse is that.?

 

[BlueMonkey79]

Poor game tonight. I really want the guy to rip up trees, but at the minute the only thing he rips up is people's hair!!

 

[The Fat el Hombre]

That challenge for the goal was shocking, and play never seems to progress through him as he doesn't have the close control to take it in tight places or the guile/quality to feed it through. Painful watching him have it in space and repeatedly turn around and play it backwards. He did win possession once or twice fairly well but I think this team will never play to its full potential until we get a proper player in that position.

For his standards it was a decent performance though I thought - 7 out of 10

 

[The Fat el Hombre]

I really like him as a player but he is just too slow.

When people say this what exactly do they like about him? I see a good shot and not a lot else. And what've we got in return for that decent shot so far - 3 goals?

 

[super_city_si]

When people say this what exactly do they like about him? I see a good shot and not a lot else. And what've we got in return for that decent shot so far - 3 goals?

I think he’s very good on the ball And he’s hard to dissposses. Good against a press. Has a good passing range.

 

[chesterbells]

That challenge for the goal was shocking, and play never seems to progress through him as he doesn't have the close control to take it in tight places or the guile/quality to feed it through. Painful watching him have it in space and repeatedly turn around and play it backwards. He did win possession once or twice fairly well but I think this team will never play to its full potential until we get a proper player in that position.

For his standards it was a decent performance though I thought - 7 out of 10

Generous

 

[chesterbells]

I think he’s very good on the ball And he’s hard to dissposses. Good against a press. Has a good passing range.

Wow, as folk often say on here, we must have been watching different games tonight Si, cos I’d draw the exact opposite conclusion; he’s too easily dispossessed, he gets flustered when pressed, and his passing is not accurate enough for our high standards.

 

[super_city_si]

Wow, as folk often say on here, we must have been watching different games tonight Si, cos I’d draw the exact opposite conclusion; he’s too easily dispossessed, he gets flustered when pressed, and his passing is not accurate enough for our high standards.

yes tonight was a poor game from him. It doesn’t help when we have him and gundo as that means we have two men back and that In turn means we‘re missing one person further forward so it’s hard for either of them to be progressive. We end up just aimlessly passing across the half way line.
I thought he started last season brilliantly and showed all the qualities I listed but since Christmas he hasn’t been anywhere near that. His mobility is a real issue.